witch hazel
noun
witch ha·zel
ˈwich-ˌhā-zəl 
1
: any of a genus (Hamamelis of the family Hamamelidaceae, the witch-hazel family) of shrubs or small trees with slender-petaled usually yellow flowers borne in late fall or early spring
especially
: one (H. virginiana) of eastern North America that blooms in the fall
2
: an alcoholic solution of a distillate of the bark of a witch hazel (H. virginiana) used as a soothing and mildly astringent lotion
Examples of witch hazel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Those looking for more intense itch relief can try Sarna’s Calm + Cool Anti-Itch Lotion, which includes witch hazel and cooling menthol.
—
Kelsey Eisen, Allure, 28 Oct. 2024
Brightening, sebum-balancing polymers ensure your makeup doesn't melt off throughout the day, while the astringent properties of green tea and witch hazel help reduce oil.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 3 Oct. 2024
And the materials they are built from – cedar, grass, rice straw and Japanese witch hazel – are cut within walking distance.
—The Week Uk, theweek, 6 Oct. 2024
The formula dishes out a concentrated dose of skin-forward ingredients like nourishing moringa seed and ginger root and energizing witch hazel, aloe, and electrolytes.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for witch hazel 
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Kelsey Eisen, Allure, 28 Oct. 2024
Brightening, sebum-balancing polymers ensure your makeup doesn't melt off throughout the day, while the astringent properties of green tea and witch hazel help reduce oil.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 3 Oct. 2024
And the materials they are built from – cedar, grass, rice straw and Japanese witch hazel – are cut within walking distance.
—The Week Uk, theweek, 6 Oct. 2024
The formula dishes out a concentrated dose of skin-forward ingredients like nourishing moringa seed and ginger root and energizing witch hazel, aloe, and electrolytes.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for witch hazel
Dictionary Entries Near witch hazel
Cite this Entry
“Witch hazel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/witch%20hazel. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
witch hazel
noun
witch ha·zel
ˈwich-ˌhā-zəl
1
: any of a genus of shrubs or small trees that produce usually yellow flowers with very thin petals in late fall or early spring
especially
: one of eastern North America that blooms in the fall
2
: a soothing alcoholic lotion made from the bark of the witch hazel
Etymology
from witch, an old name for any of several trees with branches that bend easily, from Old English wice (same meaning)
Medical Definition
witch hazel
noun
witch ha·zel
ˈwich-ˌhā-zəl
1
: any small tree or shrub of the genus Hamamelis
especially
: one (Hamamelis virginiana) of eastern North America that blooms in the fall
2
: an alcoholic solution of a distillate of the bark of a witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) used as a soothing and mildly astringent lotion
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